A study of the politics of belonging and nationness on Sint Maarten and Sint Eustatius

Sint Maarten and Sint Eustatius are the Dutch Caribbean islands with the highest indexes of migrants, yet ideologies of belonging often remain differentiated along dominant racial, ethnic, religious and class lines. This research project deems primary schools important institutions for the teachings of these ideologies as well as alternative expressions of belonging. Here, children are turned into ‘good citizens’ and political subjects. Their susceptible minds can be socialized to divide fellow citizens into those who belong more, those who belong less, and those who are said not to ‘naturally’ belong. Teachers can play a directive role in negotiating how children learn to engage ideologies of belonging, for instance in terms of nationness.​This research project takes the political constellation that has emerged since the 10-10-10 reshuffling of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as point of departure. It studies politics and feelings of belonging ethnographically, taking history and critical pedagogy into full consideration. The researchers use creative data gathering methods such as film, photo eliciting and island walk-alongs.

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Islands, nationness, and the ​imagination

Non-sovereign states and the politics of belonging in the Dutch Caribbean